The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed its willingness to meet with President Bola Tinubu, if necessary, to discuss their demand for reversing the recent increase in the price of Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
David Bariereka, the Secretary of NANS, shared this during an interview with Channels Television in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He mentioned that the student body is currently engaging with key stakeholders in the petroleum sector, including businessman Aliko Dangote, oil marketers, and the Minister of State for Petroleum, to find a solution that would ease the public’s financial strain.
This announcement follows the student body’s decision to proceed with a planned nationwide protest against the petrol price hike, which they have scheduled for September 15, 2024.
NANS Senate President Henry Okuomo, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily last Friday, emphasized that the union is committed to holding the government accountable, expressing dissatisfaction with the current economic hardships faced by the public.
He said, “We are not threatening a strike. That is what we are going to do because of the current situation of the country. Nigerians are currently facing a lot. We are facing hardship, and now, the government has increased fuel prices again. This has affected us as students. And as student leaders, we don’t have a choice now but to fight for the people.
“We are occupying one of the largest stakes in the country, having over 40 million Nigerian students in the country.
“With that, we think we should make our voice loud at this time to save the Nigerian people from this undue stress and suffering being put upon them by the government.
“We have determined that on the 15th of this month, no going back. We are hitting the street hard.
‘We are going to demand not only for a reduction in fuel price but for other things that are affecting the nation in general.
‘We are going to do it. We will hit the streets if the government does not reverse most of the hardship policies before then.”
The group had previously called for the removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL).
However, Bariereka has since urged students nationwide to disregard calls for a national protest. He clarified that the association is not currently mobilizing for such a protest.
Bariereka acknowledged the increasing hardships Nigerians are experiencing due to the recent price hike but emphasized that NANS leadership is committed to exhausting all avenues for negotiation and engagement with relevant authorities before considering protests.
He reaffirmed the association’s dedication to advocating for fair treatment of Nigerian students and highlighted their recent success in challenging the electricity bill hike for Band A users.
This effort led to the president’s appointment of a committee to explore solar energy options for Nigerian universities.
Bariereka called on Nigerian students to remain calm and await further instructions from the NANS national secretariat regarding the next steps in response to the fuel price increase.